When the shit hits the fan, what do you do? Do you relax into the drama or resist-knowing this only makes it worse?

The choice doesn’t always seem like a choice, but it is. My first reaction used to be resistance. I would freak out, scream, cry, or panic. I’ve even been guilty of throwing a plate of food across the room, but now, I’ve learned to hit my mat. When I bring myself to my mat I can hear my breath and feel my body, and automatically my mind slows and I feel a sweet release. For me when shit happens, this is how I’ve learned to cope. My old way to react - shutting down or just holding it in until I exploded days, weeks, or months later just wasn’t productive. So when the shit hit the fan most recently I witnessed the amazing impact of yoga on my life.

Five months ago, I stepped off the ledge and opened Inspire Yoga. I was excited, scared, and anxious about this journey, but ready for the challenge. And boy has it been a challenge! In five short months I have learned more about business ownership and myself than I could ever imagine.I made it through the challenge of our construction, from picking out floors to heaters to finding people to help you get the job done. I trusted that the people I hired to do the work knew what they were doing. Joke on me! Apparently people will tell you anything you want to hear to get your $$$. Just as our community was gelling and I sensed that people were getting to know our brand and name, - The SHIT HIT the fan, BIG TIME! I was informed that “Inspire Yoga” would have to change our name as we were in violation of another studio’s trademark. What happened? How did I react? First with lots of resistance, denial, tears, and then that resistance relaxed into acceptance. I hit my mat, I breathed and I released what was no longer serving me once again, resistance. As the resistance melted I could once again see possibility. It was totally out of my control and fighting it didn’t serve anyone. And now, with our new name “EMPOWER YOGA”, I am ready to move forward with a smile on my face.

Sometimes we just have to take a deep breath, and let go of what we cannot control. Relax into the resistance to see a new possibility. As my teacher Baron Baptiste says, “What’s possible now?”

Stay in the pose, the pose doesn’t begin till you want out. So I tell myself just one more breath, okay one more breath I can do this. This is the same feeling that comes up for me when shit happens. Can I just breathe? Yes, no, Yes, Yes, yes I can. As I tell my students, and myself “try easy” relax into the pose. This doesn’t mean it is easy, and doesn’t mean you aren’t sweating buckets and cursing in your head, but you are still breathing and you are not fighting. You don’t run away, you breathe through the resistance, you relax with what is. Power Yoga is often confused with kick your own assana. Yes, it does do this, but it has also taught me that I can breathe through anything life throws at me. It has empowered me to follow my dreams, to not give up when things get rough. It’s given me the permission to fall on my face and get back up again, again and again. I can relax into the resistance and come out of it stronger than I was before. It has taught me that anything is possible. Every pose each day is different and as you let go of the fight you find new breakthroughs. You discover you can stand on your hands lightly, you can surrender in pigeon, and you can re-brand your business if that is what the day brings. Through yoga I have not just watched my body transform but I have slowly noticed my life transform. I have learned to let go of the fight and be light, to breathe, and through this I believe I am ready to take on any shit that is thrown my way. Yoga is my saving grace; it constantly brings me back to my breath, back to myself. Rachel Goldberg E-RYT 200Co-founder Empower Yoga, LLCMom, Wife, yogi, and dark chocolate lover. Believer in possibility and showing up as you are; fully present and ready for anything. Dedicated to the Baptiste Methodology and empowering others to be a “Yes” in their lives.Connect with Rachel [www.empoweryogaatl.com]Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/RachelSiegelGoldberg]Email: [Rachel@empoweryogaatl.com]